Exodus 16:15-16 When the people of Israel saw it they asked each other, “What is it?” And Moses told them,
It is the food Jehovah has given you to eat. Jehovah has said for everyone to gather as much as is needed for his household---about three quarts for each person in his home.” [Living Bible translation]
Exodus 16:19-20: And Moses told them, “don’t leave it overnight.” But of course some of them wouldn’t listen, and left it until morning: and when they looked, it was full of maggots and had a terrible odor; and Moses was very angry with them. [Living Bible translation]
Summary
In Exodus 16, the people complained about not having enough to eat. Although GOD had performed miracle after miracle and brought them out of Egyptian oppression, the people still lacked faith. They moaned, groaned, complained and were often bitter about their circumstances. They were never satisfied. Instead of thanking GOD, and giving glory to GOD for what HE had already done for them, there was always something else they wanted.
But once again, GOD answered their prayer. HE provided food. In fact, HE provided DIVINE food---fresh food that descended from heaven. When the food appeared the people asked each other “What is it.” Moses told them it was “manna.” [Manna in Hebrew means “What is it.”] * Moses instructed the people to gather only what they needed, enough for each person and no more. Nothing was to be left over. They were specifically told: “Don’t leave it overnight.” In other words, they were not to try to store it, hoard it or be greedy. This was an exercise in faith and trust, in believing that GOD would supply their daily needs.
But, some of the people failed the test. They disobeyed. Instead of glorifying GOD, with their obedience, they focused on themselves and what they wanted. Maybe some of them thought that once they gathered it, took it home and put it on their plate, it was “theirs.” Perhaps some saw the food as “hidden treasure.”
They just couldn’t “see.” They couldn’t “see” that the “true gold” was not the food the WORD of GOD. They could “see” or trust the loving hand of THE PROVIDER.
* The great hymn “Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah” refers to “bread of heaven.”
BENEFITS OF EATING FRESH
Fresh Foods Taste Better
Fresh foods generally taste better. Some of the best restaurants tend to have chefs use fresh herbs, fruits, and vegetables from nearby gardens. Freshly picked ripe tomatoes generally taste better than tomatoes that have been picked, boxed, trucked across the county or harvested in another country. It is one reason why many grocery stores try to buy locally grown fruit and vegetables, whenever possible.
AVOID CANS
Another reason why eating fresh is better than eating canned foods is because some canned food liners contain BPA. Bisphenol A [often called BPA] is a chemical found in some hard plastics and the coatings of some food and drink cans. BPA can also be found in many products, including some water bottles, some baby bottles, and other food and commercial products. Often people are eating microplastics without even realizing it. Microplastics are small plastic pieces less than 5 mm long.
REASONS TO EAT REAL FOOD
Healthline cites a number of reasons why we should eat real food as opposed to process foods:
- Unprocessed foods provide the vitamins and minerals you need for optimal health;
- Real food tends to be lower in sugar than processed foods;
- Real food, because they have antioxidants and nutrients, tend to be more heart healthy;
- Eating real food tends to be better for the environment (e.g., reducing the amount of energy used and the amount of non-biodegradable waste in landfills);
- Real food tends to be higher in fiber and increases the feeling of fullness;
- Real foods tend to help protect the skin (e.g. studies show that the eating more vegetables, olive oil, beans, etc. helps to reduce wrinkles, loss of elasticity and other age-related skin changes and help prevent or reduce acne);
- Real foods are high in healthy fats (e.g. healthy fats include avocados, nuts, and seeds)
- Real food is good for your gut (e.g. your gut contains bacteria in your digestive tract)
- Real food is good for your dental health (e.g. green tea has been shown to protect tooth enamel; processed sugar and refined carbs promote tooth decay)
- High intakes of processed foods and fast foods have been linked to overeating.
See, “21 Reasons to Eat Real Food,” Healthline, https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/21-reasons-to-eat-real-food#section7.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Some might ask: How long does GOD have to provide before we “see” that morning by morning GOD already provides? How many times (or how many years) does GOD have to bless a people, before they see they can “rely” on GOD –GOD’s ability to provide what we need when we need it?
When will we “see” that we can put away our prayer list of “wants,” our anxieties, our dreads and trust GOD to provide what we need?
When will we reach that state of eating GOD’s “bread of heaven” til we want [or ask] no more?
Let us ask for a fresh relationship to food, especially GOD’s Word.
Eat fresh, Eat Daily and BE BLESSED!
